In this course, we are reading and discussing some of Fr Ryan's favorite stories from Flannery O'Connor.
This week, we consider "Revelation" and "Why do the Heathen Rage?" -- we prepare also for next week's stories, "Temple of the Holy Ghost" and "The Enduring Chill"
We hear the parable of the vineyard workers - those that worked only one hour receive the same full day's wage as those who worked since dawn. This parable, in the literal sense, speaks of the conversion of the gentiles who are incorporated into the covenant originally given to the Jewish people. The New Covenant given in Christ offers salvation even to all the nations.
This parable also gives us hope that it is never to late to become a saint. We realize that, by God's grace, every sin and vice can be overcome - we must prefer heaven to the vanities of the world!
In this series, which will go through October and possibly into November, we will read and discuss some of Father Ryan's favorite Flannery O'Connor short stories.
Course objectives: To appreciate Flannery O’Connor as a Catholic and as a grotesque writer of the American South. To recognize her unique contribution to Catholic thought in the United States. Finally, to learn to enjoy the writings of this exquisite and strange young woman.
"Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight." Sirach 27:30
Having preached in early July about the virtue of meekness by which we overcome anger, today we look at forgiveness and setting aside anger as a means of opening ourselves to every grace and virtue.
If you desire any particular virtue or grace, forgive those who have offended you and love your enemies, and God will show you great mercy and will forgive you your faults and grant you every grace needed to grow in holiness.
Sometimes, when there are deep wounds and hurts, forgiveness can be particularly difficult. Often, even when we want to forgive, we find that emotionally we are not yet able to let go of the pain we have suffered. There is a meditation upon Christ Crucified which can help open our hearts to forgive.
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."
Monday (August 24th) was the feast of St Bartholomew, who followed the Lord to the point of enduring the most horrific death of all the Apostles - being flayed alive.
We discuss the history of St Bartholomew, who is actually Nathaniel from St John's Gospel. The Lord praised him as "A true Israelite, in whom there is not guile." Guile means a certain two-facedness. The be without guile is for his yes to mean yes and his no to mean no. St Bartholomew, once strengthened by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and having preached the Gospel as far as India, would be yes for Christ to the end, even enduring a most violent death.
From the years 449 to 451, there was great debate in the Church over who Christ really is - is he truly God and Man, or only Divine? Pope St Leo the Great defended the true doctrine that Jesus is God and Man, two natures in a single divine person.
The Letter of Pope St Leo was received by the Church as the Catholic Bishops declared, "Peter has spoken through Leo!"
The miraculous history of the Council of Chalcedon and the famous Tome of Leo.
